Drug delivery through multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles Book Chapter

Manchanda, R, McGoron, AJ. (2011). Drug delivery through multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles . 91-123.

cited authors

  • Manchanda, R; McGoron, AJ

authors

abstract

  • In the modern history of medical science, chemotherapy is most widely accepted for treating multiple types of cancers. The accumulated dose of many chemotherapy drugs, and therefore their therapeutic effect, is limited by irreversible non-target tissue toxicity. Recent advances in nanotechnology using polymeric materials as drug carriers have gained increased importance and have led to the discovery of new therapeutic agents and novel materials for the treatment of cancers. Polymeric nanoparticles composed of PLGA and chitosan have emerged as potential polymers of choice because of their biodegradability and biocompatibility. They successfully increase the dosage and residence time in the body while reducing side effects by offering a sustained and tunable release profile. Polymeric nanoparticle chemistry has numerous research possibilities among which the field of multi-functional nanoparticles has taken precedence in recent times. Multifunctional nanoparticles bring the advantages of combining co-delivery, drug targeting and imaging of tumors in a single delivery system, enhancing the available repertorire of tools in the fight against cancer. This chapter will present an overview of the drug delivery strategies employing polymeric nanoparticles, in light of some recent scientific advances in the area of multi-functional nanoparticles for drug delivery and cancer therapeutics. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • April 1, 2011

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 13

start page

  • 91

end page

  • 123